to slumber, and the dark houses around about stood up out of the
universal darkness like huge coffins.

Suddenly the horizon began to grow bright, and on the sky appeared
a streak of fiery red, which, blazing up higher and higher, soon
illuminated the entire horizon with a crimson glow, and even shed its
glaring fiery beams over the balcony on which stood the royal pair.
Still the bells clanged and clamored; and blended with their peals was
heard now and then, in the distance, a piercing shriek and a clamor as
of thousands and thousands of confusedly mingled voices.

Suddenly the king turned to Catharine, and his countenance, which was
just then overspread by the fire-light as with a blood-red veil, had now
assumed an expression of savage, demoniacal delight.

"Ah," said he, "I know what it is. You had wholly bewildered me, and
stolen away my attention, you little enchantress. I had for a moment
ceased to be a king, because I wished to be entirely your lover. But
now I bethink me again of my avenging sovereignty! It is the fagot-piles
about the stake which flame so merrily yonder. And that yelling and
clamor indicate that my merry people are enjoying with all their soul
the comedy which I have had played before them to-day, for the honor of
God, and my unimpeachable royal dignity."

"The stake!" cried Catharine, trembling. "Your majesty does not mean
thereby to say that right yonder, men are to die a cruel, painful
death--that the same hour in which their king pronounces himself happy
and content, some of his subjects are to be condemned to dreadful
torture, to a horrible destruction! Oh, no! my king will not overcloud
his queen's wedding-day with so dark a veil of death. He will not wish
to dim my happiness so cruelly."

The king laughed. "No, I will not darken it, but light it up with bright
names," said he; and as, with outstretched arm, he pointed over to the
glaring heavens, he continued: "There are our wedding-torches, my Kate,
and the most sacred and beautiful which I could find, for they burn to
the honor of God and of the king. [Footnote: "Life of King Henry the
Eighth, founded on Authentic and Original Documents." By Patrick Fraser
Tytler. (Edinburgh, 1887, p. 440.)] And the heavenward flaring flames
which carries up the souls of the heretics will give to my God joyous
intelligence of His most faithful and obedient son, who, even on the
day of his happiness, forgets not his kingly duty, but ever remains